North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Ahmed Hussein Salem Alazanni, 40, of 1100 Ocean Ave., Apt. 207, San Francisco, California. Alazanni is charged with two counts of burning personal property and one count of burning a commercial structure while it was occupied. All three charges are felonies.
According to special agents with the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Alazanni set fire to the EZ Mini Mart at 702 N. Alston Ave., Durham while people were inside the structure. Alazanni was an employee of the business at the time of the fire. He also set fire to a 2015 Volkswagen Passat and a 2003 Mercedes Benz parked nearby in attempt to target or injure two separate individuals. No injuries were reported as the result of the fires.
The fires occurred on Aug. 14, 2024.
After warrants were issued on Aug. 20, 2024, Alazanni fled to California with the intent to leave the United States, agents said. Alazanni was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at San Francisco International Airport and returned to North Carolina by U.S. Marshals on June 17. He was given a $1 million secured bond and is set to appear in Durham County District Court on July 16.
NCDOI’s Criminal Investigations Division collaborated with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Durham Police and Fire departments and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigations on this case.
“Thank you to all agencies and to our own Criminal Investigations Division for bringing this case to resolution,” Commissioner Causey said. “Anyone that attempts to harm another person should always be treated as a dangerous criminal.”
If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, please report it. You may anonymously report fraud by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.
Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.